One-month report card: Floridian Social Club

A small percentage of his expansive dreams for the Floridian Social Club had to be put on ice because of the pandemic, but Kevin Chadwick, owner of the former State Theatre building at 687 Central, says that response to the venue, which opened in mid-February, has exceeded his expectations.

“On a scale of one to 10, as far as realizing the potential of the theater,” Chadwick enthuses, “it’s a 12.”

Under city, county and state guidelines, the current capacity for the fully-renovated 1926 building is approximately 500 (half the actual capacity); Chadwick is capping things at 300 patrons – and on weekend nights, when the headline performers play from 9 p.m. to midnight, some have to be turned away (there’s a counter at the front door).

The club, which has two bars, opens at 4 p.m. and closes at 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; things close up at 1 a.m. Sundays, and Tuesdays-Thursdays. The Floridian is closed Mondays. Live music is programmed every night.

Between the 7 p.m. acoustic acts and the 9 p.m. headliners, Fridays and Saturdays, aerial artist Taylor Roberts performs on the silks and hoops, throughout the theater.

“In fact,” says Chadwick, “she is heading up an entire new aspect to our entertainment. We’re starting to program a variety show as our late-night show. When the main act is off the stage at midnight, we’re going to have the coolest program.”

Don’t think vaudeville, or The Ed Sullivan Show, he insists. “It’s more of a Cirque du Soleil. Contortionists, comedians, magicians – that kind of thing.”

The variety show launches this summer. “That’s going to be a lot of fun,” Chadwick says.

Also on the horizon is a catered Sunday Jazz Brunch (jazz is already on the menu for Sunday nights). There is currently no food at the Floridian (except, Chadwick points out, gourmet popcorn, which is free).

“There’s nothing like this venue anywhere in the Tampa Bay area,” he pronounces, admitting that yes, he’s biased. “But I’m quoting others when I say that.”